This guide from Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP(R)) covers safeguards that can be implemented in hospitality businesses today, tips on how to continuously improve security and data regulation compliance.

HFTP GDPR Guidelines: Privacy Policies for Hotels

This document offers points to consider in the development of a hotel’s privacy policy. In view of the multiple organisational and legal structures under which hotels operate, as well as the complexity of the third party landscape that may be part of the complete guest experience, this document serves as a guideline only.

HFTP GDPR Guidelines: Hospitality Guest Registration Cards

This document offers recommendations for guest information collection on the guest registration card along with consent for use. It can be used as a guideline for loyalty cards, health data, export of data outside of the EU, privacy policies and direct marketing.

Rising on the legendary campus, the new Doug Pitcock ’49 Texas A&amp;M Hotel and Conference Center(www.TexasAMHotelCC.com) is nearing completion and now booking reservations for group meetings, weddings and individual guests. Scheduled to open in August 2018, the 250-room property will offer the university’s exceptional academic, cultural and athletic resources to all markets regardless of affiliation or event theme. Under the management of BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, the new property will be part of the Benchmark Resorts &amp; Hotels brand and designed to meet the exacting standards of IACC.

The Lancaster Hotel has unveiled plans for the iconic hotel’s multi-million-dollar renovation, taking place under new owners, the Shinn family of Dallas. The redesigned hotel will place a new focus on the visual arts, complementing the property’s location in Houston’s vibrant theater and performing arts district, while acknowledging its legacy as a Texas Historic Landmark.

Suning Real Estate - a subsidiary of China's commercial giant Suning Holdings Group - and MGM will officially launch a new Bellagio Shanghai on 8 June 2018, marking the first international hotel to follow the famous Bellagio Towers of Las Vegas.

XV Beacon, the award winning boutique address located atop Boston’s Beacon Hill, has named Kara Smith as Director of Sales &amp; Marketing. Drawing upon nearly a decade of business travel and catering sales experience earned at properties in and around Boston, Smith now leads all sales and marketing efforts for XV Beacon, including planning and implementing innovative sales, marketing and product development initiatives. In her new role, Smith also serves as the main point of contact for existing group, meetings and incentive clientele; leads outreach to expand the hotel’s current and prospective client base; and promotes the unique qualities and exciting developments that have long made XV Beacon the most desirable address for upscale business and leisure travel within the region.

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and Country Garden Hotels Group have announced a strategic partnership which will see numerous Country Garden hotel properties managed by Hilton, primarily with its DoubleTree by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn brands.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world's leading hotel companies, in partnership with Ratanakorn Asset, has announced the momentous signing of eight new properties in Thailand's key resort destinations of Pattaya, Rayong, Phuket, Khao Lak and Koh Samui.

Shangri-La's Villingili Resort &amp; Spa, Maldives is delighted to announce the appointment of Candice Barwell as the resort's new director of sales and marketing. Set to join the team this month, Barwell will be responsible for planning and implementing the sales and marketing strategy, optimizing the hotel's revenue and market share, and will continue to establish Shangri-La's Villingili as one of the leading luxury resorts in the Maldives.

Every North American resort owner knows that the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is peak. The kids are out of school by mid-to-late June, making it family time for the beach, the great outdoors or a meticulously planned European vacation.

Today, the Illinois Hotel &amp; Lodging Association (IHLA) honored the hospitality industry’s finest at its 23rd annual Hospitality Awards Luncheon. Held in conjunction with the National Restaurant Association Restaurant-Hotel Show at McCormick Place, more than 400 professionals gathered to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the hospitality industry in Illinois over the past year.

Extraordinary travel values are just a click away as luxury hotels and resort properties from Gemstone Collection and Benchmark Resorts &amp; Hotels celebrate Summer Cyber Week from Tuesday, May 29 through June 4, 2018. Travelers can choose from an array of award-winning hotels in America’s most exciting destinations with sunsationalvalues of up to 50% off accommodations and services.

ALICE, the hospitality industry’s leading operations platform, will showcase its complete suite of hotel management and guest engagement products at this year’s HITEC in Houston, June 18-22, at Booth 2319. Schedule an appointment with the ALICE team here.

For over a century, dreamers, farmers, investors, and even a Prussian Count have held a vision of the magnificence in store for the Colorado Springs area. It took the foresight, dedication and incredible vision of one man, Spencer Penrose, to bring the dream to reality… and to make it wonderful enough to last 100 years.

Dr. Nikos Igoumenidis is a Heraklion, Crete native elected to the Hellenic Parliament to represent his region, home city, and Crete back in 2015. A cardiologist by profession, he's a former Director of Cardiology at the clinic of the University General Hospital of Heraklion (PAGNI), and currently responsible for tourism on behalf of SYRIZA parliamentary group. We had the privilege recently of discussing with Dr. Igoumenidis the character of Crete hospitality and tourism to come including emerging alternative tourism trends such as; wellness/medical tourism, cultural tourism, and the underdeveloped rural tourism niche. Here is what one of Crete's most respected and informed officials had to say on these subjects.

The Informalist, 205 South Barstow Street, Eau Claire, located at The Lismore Hotel, announced today the restaurant’s new Executive Chef, Chef Joseph ‘Joey’ Sieg. Joining the restaurant with 16 years of industry experience, Sieg will oversee and manage all kitchen operations and will work to expand the culinary staff’s skills and creativity through innovative strategies and imaginative recipes. Sieg aims to provide a relaxed yet innovative culinary experience for the community while driving profits for the restaurant and hotel.

Embassy Suites by Hilton, a global brand of upscale, all-suite hotels from Hilton (NYSE: HLT), announced today the opening of a new hotel in Montreal. Embassy Suites by Hilton prides itself on offering guests an approachable and stress-free experience at each of its hotel properties.

Renaissance Hotels announced today its newest concept is now open for business in central Ohio, bringing the first full-service hotel to Westerville. The Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel (Renaissance Westerville) opened its doors to guests Tuesday along with the Two-One restaurant, named after the 21st Amendment in honor of the community’s rich history in prohibition.

Everett House Partners announces today that the 134-suite Crowne Plaza(R) - Farmington Hills, previously the Holiday Inn(R) Farmington Hills, has recently opened. Located at 37529 Grand River Avenue, the property is approximately 20 minutes from downtown Detroit and offers shuttle service to nearby offices and local attractions. In addition to being owned by Everett House Partners, the property is managed by Crescent Hotels &amp; Resorts, who manages several other IHG hotels.

How can we imagine developing a product and a brand that are disembodied, cut off from their source of inspiration, with no link to what should feed them and help them progress? Today, large companies suffer from two major ills: a brutal and merciless transformation that does not wait for latecomers, the rupture that is on everyone's lips; and obvious management problems.

Radisson Hospitality AB, publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Sweden and part of Radisson Hotel Group, is adding a new territory to its expanding portfolio with the signing of Park Inn by Radisson Lusaka Longacres in Zambia. Radisson Hotel Group’s Africa portfolio consists of 83 hotels and more than 17,500 rooms in operation and under development.

Quick quiz, what do these leaders have in common — “Jack Welch of GE, Steve Jobs of Apple, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Steve Wynn of Wynn Casino Resorts, Elon Musk of Telsa, Richard Branson of Virgin, and Donald Trump of well… Trump”? They are all past and present individuals that arguably have developed their company brands around “cults of personality.”

Charlestowne Hotels announces the appointment of Kevin Kruse to general manager of The Bristol Hotel, the city’s first boutique property, slated to open in early Fall 2018. He will lead the management operations for the eight-story, 65-room historic revitalization of downtown Bristol’s notable Executive Plaza building. The hotel, managed by Charlestowne Hotels, will include a regionally-inspired restaurant serving authentic Appalachian cuisine, lively rooftop bar and prime event space.

DoubleTree by Hilton, one of Hilton' s (NYSE: HLT) 14 market-leading brands, is set to add five new hotels to its rapidly expanding UK portfolio, following a franchise agreement between real estate investment company Aprirose and Hilton. The hotels will be managed by RBH - formerly Redefine|BDL Hotels - and are located in Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, Glasgow, Cambourne, and Forest Pines (Yorkshire) and are expected to welcome their first guests under the upscale brand later this year.